Any attempt to reduce hunger requires a sound understanding of which people are affected. This book differentiates between food shortage (regional food scarcity), food poverty (inadequate household food supplies), and food deprivation (individual malnutrition) in order to identify the causes of hunger and recommend ways to effectively target interventions. It also focuses on how we know who the hungry are.

The authors explain commonly-used means of measuring hunger, the assumptions embedded in these measures, and what can and cannot be concluded from the evidence. With many tools in place for combating hunger, the book draws attention to the policies that are working and the individuals, households, and communities that are underserved.